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To Protect the Alpha Female	By : Sylean Category: InuYasha > General Views: 10682 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I do not make a profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
Chapter 23: To Disregard a Claim

Kagome’s pack got too close to the newly strengthened barrier of Mount Hakurei for Sesshomaru to follow comfortably. He got brief whiffs of scent as he led his entourage around the mountain, reassuring him that she was alive and doing fine. Knowing who lay inside the mountain, however, he was constantly on edge, vigilante of any change. It wasn’t until Rin was taken away in the middle of his battle with one of the walking-dead servants of Naraku, the one with the snake-like sword, and taken towards the mountain, did he push onward to come to her rescue. With as massive as his aura was, he could withstand the mountain’s aura for a short time, but it drained his strength at a rapid rate. Ironic how as he went closer to the mountain Kagome moved further away and in a different direction. He could not remain here for long, and the opponents he faced seemed intent on taking as long as possible. He even went so far as to grin; to irritate the one called Jakotsu into striking rather than simply staring him down. The first strike showed him that he would not be able to dodge forever, so second strike, he cast his weapon at the second one, Suikotsu he heard him called, that held Rin hostage, and shoved his clawed hand through the chest of the other. It would have killed normal mortals, but these two it simply wounded. If it hadn’t been for the undead priestess showing up at just the right time, Rin would have been slaughtered. The barrier pressed in on him, and once he witnessed Suikotsu perish, he turned and left with swift steps, “We must leave, Rin.” He needed to let his aura replenish, before he could no longer withstand the purity of the barrier.

Injured in his battle with Ginkotsu, Inuyasha and Kagome carried the unconscious bodies of Kouga and his men away from the mountain to recover. Situating the wolf prince in a cave, she waited for him to wake up while Inuyasha cleansed himself of the stench of wolf.

When Kouga finally came to, first things he noticed were the surrounding scents; it was his strongest sense after all. He got belligerent over smelling like dog, which was to be expected since Inuyasha carried him here, but then he noticed it was not only he, but Kagome as well. Just as he caught this whiff, Inuyasha walked in, dripping wet from his soak in the river.

“What the heck happened to you, you’re totally soaked,” Kagome exclaimed to Inuyasha.

“What do you think, I had to wash off that wolf stench,” he explained disgustedly. “It was right through my clothes.”

“What’d you say?” Kouga tried to sit up in defense.

“Disgusting!” Inuyasha dropped to a crouch and shook the water free.

“Inuyasha, I told you to keep your hands off my woman; Ngh, she smells like dog,” Kouga accused. Sure, she had smelled like Inuyasha a lot, he carried her all the time but this was stronger, deeper.

“I still smell?” she asked, only slightly insulted by the callous remark. “Geez, how many baths will it take to get his drool out of my hair?”

“It’ll take more than just a bath, Kagome,” Inuyasha told her. Demon scent marks did not fade easily, and Sesshomaru had ensured she was thoroughly covered; it soaked right through her clothes and even her skin smelled like him now. Apparently, Kouga couldn’t tell the difference; they were of the same blood and all he could smell in his weakened state was dog.

“Inuyasha licked you?” it would take a lot to cover her in this much scent, especially since she said she had already bathed and it still remained. Had the whelp finally scent marked her? Kouga knew what it meant to challenge this claim, but if he didn’t act now, she may slip out of his reach forever. At least it was only in the early stages of courtship; he still had time. Wolf and dog traditions were not that different, but the dogs had a few extra steps, making them think they were higher or something. All it meant to him was that he was at an advantage, having less to carry out.

“Ewww, no! Sesshomaru did, in his true form,” she gestured with her hands to show he was enormous, “so I was just covered in slobber.”

“Wait, what?” she was scent marked, but not by Inuyasha? “You idiotic pup, you let another leave a scent mark? You’re more pathetic than I thought.”

“Scent mark?” Kagome repeated. “What does that mean exactly?” The book from Sesshomaru only just brushed upon it, she knew it was under the Declaration of Intentions heading, so a fairly early thing that is only for when she agreed, but was that what he was doing by licking her? It made a bit more sense now that she thought about it. ‘I agreed, and he placed his scent mark, rather unpleasantly, I might add.’ “So that’s what that was all about,” she mused aloud.

“Keh, shows what you know,” Inuyasha scoffed at Kouga. He had in fact done his job perfectly, seeing as he protected Kagome from Kouga’s advances until Sesshomaru could lay claim. The wolf was Sesshomaru’s problem now; all Inuyasha had to do was protect her life and honor, not control her decisions.

‘Wait, wasn’t Sesshomaru the name of Inuyasha’s brother. So then, Inuyasha is not the one who is after her,’ Kouga realized. “Oh I get it, you’re just the Beta,” the slung insult had Inuyasha baring his fangs in retort. At least now he didn’t have to worry about Inuyasha pursuing her.

“Watch it, Mangy Wolf,” Inuyasha grit out between closed fangs.

“Whoever this Sesshomaru is,” Kouga grasped Kagome’s hands, completely ignoring Inuyasha, “I promise you, Kagome, I’ll kill him in challenge and free you from his scent.”

Inuyasha was about to belt out how he’d like to see him try, knowing Kouga’d have nary a chance, but Kagome beat him to it, her voice rising in pitch, “Not like this you won’t; you can barely stand.” Her attitude scathing and making him push himself back against the stone he was laying on, willing them to give way and let him hide in their cracks. “And besides, who says I want to be free of him! Maybe I like him, did you ever think of that?” She slapped her hands over her mouth the second the words came out, not at all wanting to admit to anyone that she may be having feelings for him, even if they were mild. “Never mind, lets focus instead on- What is it Inuyasha?” she stopped when she heard Inuyasha growl upon seeing a Siamyosho.

Inuyasha darted off to get rid of the spy, and during which, Renkotsu made an appearance. He filled the river at the mouth of the cave with oil and lit it on fire, then began attacking. Inuyasha returned earlier than Renkotsu expected, tossing his fire rat robe over Kagome for protection and resumed fighting with Renkotsu. The two ended up falling into the river with Renkotsu holding firebombs, and did not come back up.

Kagome and the wolf pack left the cave and ran downstream along the banks looking for him. Kagome fretted, worried that he got hurt since he wasn’t wearing the fire rat robe, which acts as his armor. Ginta and Hakkaku tried to reassure her.

“I’m sure we’ll find him soon.”

“He probably washed up on the river bank.”

“That’s if the mutt wasn’t blown into a million pieces,” Kouga scoffed, gaining scolding gasps from his pack. “I’m just telling it like it is. Besides, if that idiot hadn’t-” The scent of Kagome’s tears stilled his tongue with a fearful gulp.

“Ah, now you made her cry,” they chastised.

“No, no, don’t cry, please,” he tried without success to retract his careless words.

“It’s all my fault, because he let me wear this!” she wailed, her voice cracking.

“It’s not your fault, Kagome; I saw what happened. You didn’t want to touch that stinking robe but he force-” a firm fist to the head shut him up real good.

“You were saying, who didn’t want to touch it?” Inuyasha asked with irritation and the two began bickering as per their usual, casting threats about putting the other’s lights out once and for all, but the posturing was silenced as Kagome ran smack into the middle.

“Inuyasha!” Kagome crashed into his chest, tears trailing in her wake. “I was worried. Are you really okay; you’re not hurt?” His alpha showing such concern, he had never had that from anyone but her. No one ever cried for him, and she did so frequently. It was times like this that he acknowledged her as his alpha without the slightest qualms.

“Kagome, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get you all upset,” he apologized for the tears.

“You’re not hurt or anything, are you sure you’re alright?” she repeated, needing to hear it.

“Yeah,” he returned the embrace, calming under the nuzzle-like, pack affection she showed for him. It was soothing.

Kouga stepped away from the pair. He identified Kagome’s actions for what they were, concern for her pack, but his beta’s questioned him, “Where you going, Kouga? Are you going to walk away?” He’d never relented before; they couldn’t believe it.

“Just this once I’ll turn my back; Kagome’s already upset enough as it is. Get this straight though, don’t go thinking I’m defeated, Mutt. Cause I’m never going to give up on winning Kagome,” he was casting threats at the wrong dog and they all knew it, but that didn’t mean Inuyasha wouldn’t fight back.

Inuyasha looked up at him with a deadpan look, “One glance should be enough to tell you it ain’t gonna to happen, you idiot.” Kagome was already pack, accepted and integrated. The chance of her switching was negligible.

Kouga growled at the display being thrown back at him. “Heh, look who’s talking; you’re all smug just because of one little hug, you’re the idiot,” Kouga crossed his arms and tried to look unfazed.

“You’re so jealous, serves you right, Kouga. Dufus,” Inuyasha joshed back.

‘Its kind of getting hard to cry,’ Kagome thought to herself.

“One stupid guy calling the other one stupid,” Shippo commented.

“Yeah, they’re both stupid,” Hakkaku agreed.

“Dumb as a sack of hammers,” Ginta added.

All three observers watched with disinterest.

“What did you say?!” both Inuyasha and Kouga lashed out.

‘My tears are drying up fast,’ Kagome thought behind her smile.

(A/N: You didn’t think Kouga would just give up, did you? :P He always has had too much misplaced confidence.
Now, how will Sesshomaru take his challenge, that’s the frightening question.)

Remaining close, but far enough from the mountain to avoid the purifying barrier, Sesshomaru kept watch. Naraku would have to come out sooner or later, and when he did, Sesshomaru would be sure to introduce him to his poisonous claws. Once the barrier did collapse, the horde of demons swarming from it made Sesshomaru unable to leave Rin’s side. He was able to catch Kagome’s scent though, and it was very near the wolf’s. Inuyasha, however, was not in the same location, and he was saturated in blood. Had the whelp seriously left her with a rival? Sesshomaru’s narrowed eyes showed his displeasure. If anything should happen to her, Inuyasha would regret her ever giving him role of protector; he had better have a good reason for his actions.

Until such a time as he could confront the pup, the hunt for Naraku was on again; the spider no longer had a barrier to protect him. The demons pouring from the mountain in droves kept coming, slowing his progress towards the mountain to that of a crawl. He would be faster on his own. As their numbers dwindled, he commanded Rin to leave with Ah-Un; that would get her away and to safety so he could advance at a more reasonable pace. Ah-Un could handle any lesser demons and would know where to take her.

Deep in the belly of Mount Hakurei, Naraku succeeded in reforming his body and gathering together the jewel shards he already possessed with those from the now deceased Band of Seven leader, Bankotsu. As he moved to make his escape, with the Windscar keeping Inuyasha and his group trapped, Kagome noticed that Naraku had two jewel shards at his feet, likely from Kouga who had been sucked into the floor during their trek inside. She was determined to save him; to free him from Naraku’s grasp. She protected all of her friends.

Riding on Inuyasha’s back, she loosed an arrow straight for Naraku, striking his barrier with a most intense holy power. It was what opened Naraku’s eyes. He already knew she was powerful, obviously with the powers of a priestess, but there was something else. Her strike, it did not kill him, although he could sense that she had more power locked away than she was currently using. Her powers were strong enough to weaken his barrier, twisting his own powers around and releasing the wolf price from his grasp. This would need more investigation, was it possible that this girl, was a fabled Tenshi No Ko? Not even Kikyo could claim such, although Naraku suspected the undead priestess might have been a second generation during her life. It would explain why she had so much power. The first time Kagome struck him with an arrow, destroying his body, he chalked it up to her simply being a priestess, but this, was not simply purifying powers. Perhaps he could find use for her. To taint the untouchable, now that would be licentious.

Naraku made his escape, leaving those inside to their fate, although he had a feeling they would emerge unscathed; they had a knack for hanging onto life. It mattered not; their deaths were not his objective at this time. Now Kikyo on the other hand…

The satisfaction of sending Kikyo to her second death, over the edge of a cliff and into a river of miasma, he would savor that image for a long time to come. The moment was interrupted though, when Sesshomaru showed up. No matter, he could use him to test his new body.

“I must say, you took extraordinary measures to kill a mere woman, Naraku,” Sesshomaru goaded. He would have assisted Kikyo, had he arrived in time to do so. He owed her for saving Rin earlier. There was naught that could be done about it now.

“I never expected you to be following me as well, Sesshomaru,” Naraku didn’t even deem it worth turning towards him, daringly keeping his back towards the dog demon, “so you find me that interesting, do you?”

“Since you’ve emerged from your barrier, I assume you are capable of producing a significant amount of power,” Sesshomaru speculated.

“Why don’t you see for yourself,” Naraku suggested, finally turning to face his opponent.

The sword strike tore Naraku in half before being absorbed and sent back. One more strike and Naraku made his leave, regenerating at an unbelievable rate as he claimed that he would never die.

Inuyasha showed up right afterwards, and Sesshomaru informed him of the death, if it can be called that, of the undead one. Sensing Inuyasha was about to break down at the news, he turned to leave him to his own devices, but anger was easier to stomach than sorrow, and Inuyasha turned the blame towards Sesshomaru, “Did you just watch her get killed? Didn’t you do anything to help? I told you to stop!”

“I don’t care to know what your connection to that woman was,” Sesshomaru stated. She wasn’t his to protect, but she had been a brief ally. Naraku simply got to her first. “The person responsible for killing Kikyo was Naraku,” he paused and looked back, “and you, you’re the one who didn’t save her. Inuyasha, blame yourself. Rather than take your anger out on me, I suggest you go after Naraku.” With that, Inuyasha’s anger dissolved into heart-wrenching sadness, as the smoky air obscured his collapsed figure. Sesshomaru continued on his way, heading towards where Ah-Un would have brought Rin.

Inuyasha spent the rest of the night searching for Kikyo, or at least her remains, but found nothing, so when he was relayed a rumor of her whereabouts, Kagome insisted he go. He did not object. During his absence however, some castle soldiers under the control of Naraku’s infant captured Kagome, Sango, and Miroku. They took Kagome away from her friends, and the infant looked into her very soul. Kagome tried to shrink away from the slimy and tainted touch, just like that of Naraku, but the baby found more than just the tiny speck of darkness within her heart; it found proof of her lineage. ‘Your assumption was correct, Naraku;’ it communicated through their link, ‘she is indeed a first generation.’

‘I see, this can be of use to me,’ Naraku thought back. ‘Continue with the original plan.’

The infant subdued her, and took her away to an isolated temple. Once there, Kanna handed over a tainted jewel shard for Kagura to implant in Kagome. When Kagura got close with the shard, that’s when she pieced it together. At first, she thought it was Inuyasha’s scent mark, even though it didn’t make sense how it covered ever inch of her, but now, being so close, she could pick up the subtle differences, it was Sesshomaru’s! Kagura’s anger and jealousy flared; in that instant, she actually wanted Naraku to take control of Kagome, take her away from Sesshomaru so she could have him instead. “With this she will become Naraku’s servant,” Kagura repeated, “just like Kohaku.” As much as she wanted to help them kill Naraku, she was torn between getting rid of her rival for the royal dog she desired. ‘How did this girl steal his attention?’ jealousy and contempt leaked from her aura. ‘What makes her so special? He turned me down, a full demon, in exchange for this human wench!’ “Sesshomaru won’t want you after Naraku is through with you, that’s for sure.”

‘Sesshomaru?’ Kagome awoke from the infant’s grasp. ‘This impure light… No, I can’t move; I have to break free. Inuyasha, save me!’

“Kagura, hold on! She’s a stubborn one, she’s regained consciousness,” the pale infant halted the wind demon’s movements. “Inuyasha won’t come to save you, Kagome, you must realize this by now. He has made his choice; he has chosen to look for Kikyo. Remember Kagome, when you learned that Kikyo had died, weren’t you actually quite pleased? Now, Inuyasha would no longer run off, leaving the rest of you in danger. But then a mere rumor had him doing so again, and look where it landed you. Whether she is dead of alive, Inuyasha will always leave you vulnerable to search for her.”

Kagome’s struggles ceased, and the infant thought her completely subdued once again, ‘Inuyasha would not protect me? But that’s not true. And he’s not the only one keeping me safe either.’ Kagura moved the shard closer, intending to implant it beneath Kagome’s skin, but her purity, her angelic origins, overpowered Naraku’s darkness, repelling the blackened shard. Demons may have massive auras and great numbers, but they are nothing compared to the density of holy aura. It takes only a single, tiny candle to light up a dark room.

“You’re, you’re wrong. Inuyasha can’t forget about Kikyo; he loves her. I cannot fault him for that. He would always do all he could to save her, but he would put his life in danger to protect the rest of us too,” her voice, barely audible to begin with, strengthened the more she spoke. Her conviction shone through each syllable. “He defends not only me, but Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara, too. He goes out of his way to help people he doesn’t like, Kouga, for example. I know he ran off to try to find Kikyo, but he would return in an instant to save us too. And he’s not the only one I have looking out for me. As you mentioned, Kagura, Sesshomaru would guard me too, as would every one of my friends; we protect each other. I will not let Naraku use me against them! Someone will come for me!” A crash of wood behind her drew her attention just before her burst of energy ran out, “Sessho-maru.”

The infant detached itself and returned to Kagura’s arms before he could be struck. Sesshomaru landed between Kagome and the incarnations, sword drawn, catching and cradling Kagome’s fall with his Moko-moko. It was now his firm obligation to protect her; ever since his scent mark was placed. After retrieving Rin from where Ah-Un had brought her, he noticed Kagome’s scent away from those of her companions and came to investigate, good thing he did, for Naraku spared no time in making a move on her.

“You dare disregard claim on what is mine,” Sesshomaru’s narrowed eyes and icy demeanor spoke of his displeasure with the whole situation.

The infant laughed, “I see, Sesshomaru, it comes as no surprise to find you after this rare Tenshi No Ko, too.”

Kagura finally learned of what Kagome was; realized the fascination demons had with this little thing, “Now I see, why Naraku wants that girl.” She was a threat, a massive threat to him. And if the rumors were true…

Before more could be said, Inuyasha landed hard on the balcony behind him, “Kagome, is she alright?” Followed by the demon slayer, monk, fire-cat, and fox child.

Sesshomaru paid those behind him no mind, he could feel her breathing, hear her heart beat; she was alive, just exhausted.

When Miroku arrived, the fear from the intuitive monk made itself known. He seemed to recognize something important, “Tell me, are you Naraku’s human heart?”

“Why would you think that,” the unnatural child responded coldly. Miroku gave his explanation, and the child all but admitted its truth. So this was where Naraku had hidden his very life. It should be simple enough to dispatch, and rid these lands of that menace. Inuyasha jumped in first, loosing a wild Windscar only to have it sucked up. Sesshomaru identified the attack as the same one that Naraku used to absorb and reflect his Tokijin at the mountain and swiftly gathered up Kagome and exited the temple. The other’s followed suit before the blast could strike.

Once free of the temple, the incarnations ascended in the thus far unbreakable barrier. There was little point in pursuing an enemy beyond his reach. “Don’t think this is over quite yet,” the ghastly child taunted. “There are many ways to corrupt that girl, Inuyasha. I bet I know just what Naraku has planned too, something very similar to your own goals with her, Sesshomaru.”

Flying off on her feather, Kagura noticed the infant in her arms, “What’s wrong? You look unwell.”

“Be quiet, I need to sleep,” he ordered harshly. ‘Kagome’s soul was stronger than I expected. I used up too much energy,’ he recalled. ‘Not surprising, seeing as she is one of those.’
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To Protect the Alpha Female